The Portland daily press., 1887-10-08
LAsoRINc KNIGHTS.
Secretary Litchman tells OF the size
and Finances of the Order.
A Proposition to Boycott Three maine
Firms.
Cooperative Schemes for Manufac-
turing and Farming.

MINNEAPOLIS, Mimi. Oct. H. General
Secretary Litchman presented his report To-
day at the convention Of the Knights of La
bor The number of members in good stand
ing July was 100000; the number in arrears
$4,000. The receipts the fiscal year were
$685., ,731; giving, with the balance on hand.
S5OS,647. Mr.. Litchman said that his Office
was anything but a bed of roses: that his
enemies in the order persecuted him. The
circumstances under which large number
of local assemblies had been suspended for
alleged non-payment of dues were detailed
at length. He charged that there had been
a great deal of rascality on the part Of local
secretaries, numbers of whom had obtained
funds, voted by their assemblies, but failed
to remit to the general Headquarters. There
was also an astonishing amount of ignorance
among them, as in cases where local officers
carried post Office orders about in their pock-
cts for year. supposing them to be simply
receipts; and the secretary said that the
postal department paid over to the general
secretary the amount deposited for the re-
mittances. He admitted, however, in a few
cases. through errors on the part of clerks,
that lecal'bOdles in good standing had been
suspended. The report recommended the
establishment OF cooperative savings asso-
citation in connection with the order. Legis
latl0n was also recommended making more
stringent prohibition Of the use Of the name
of the order or any of its symbols for busi-
ness purposes, and the placing Of an effectual
boycott upon ever" article upon which the
initials of the order were used without the
sanction of the general executive board.
General Treasurer Turner submitted his
annual report, showing the gross receipts,
including balance, S497 65S expenditures,
S49l ,6S3; balance 5000.
At the afternoon session Mrs. Sonora NJ.
Barry, general investigator, submitted a
LENGTHY in MI oh h@f
so far that part of the constitution which re-
lates to women has been but mockery. She
urged that some thorough educational meas
ures be adopted in behalf of the weaker sex.
Numerous instances Of cruel treatment Of
women working in manufactures were cited.
The recommendation was made that undivi-
ded attention be given to the forming of pro-
ductlye and distributiye cooperative enter
prises, particularly in the manufacture of
mems, wOmen's and children's garments.
Next came the report of the cooperative
board. 1t made many valuable suggestions
as to the future government of the board 1t
asked that the board bs given the power to
establish cooperative agricultural machine
mandatory. The supp0sition Is that should
the assembly ratify this recommendation, the
headquarters OF the concern Will be in this
city ana the works near by. Another re-
commendation is to establish cooperative
farm III Minnesota, in Crow Wing county.
Reports were presented from the committee
on education, and then the roll was called
for resolutions committed under seal by as
semblies of over 100. These were handed in
and referred to the committee on distribution
without debate.
The assembly then adjourned until tomor-
row.
The executive committee recommend a
boycott of the goods made by number of
manufacturers who have opposed the order.
Among the firms are Francis Cobb IL Co.,
lime manufacturers Of Rockland, Me-. the
Richards Paper Company Of Gardner, Me.
Z. f. Spinney y Co, shoe manufacturers, OF
Norway, Me- the American Tack Company
of Fairham, Mass. p. 81 N. Corbin & Co..
lecks, etc, New Britain, Conn; E. & H.
Bachelor & Co.. shoes, West Brookfield,
Mass.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 7.-Michael Davitt
arrived this evening. He said the proceed
ings and purposes of the Knights of Labor
were followed with particularly keen in
terests by the labor organizations of Eng
land, Scotland and Ireland. 1t is their i'm
tention to form similar organization abroad
and to that end Powderly will be invited tC
deliver addresses during his visit to the old
country.